Speech correction device



April 17, 1951 F. FCSTELZ 2,549,398

SPEECH CORRECTION DEVICE Filed Jan. 31, 1948 m 5v TOR, FRA NK F. STEL 2 A TTORNE VS Patented Apr. 17, 1951 SPEECH CORRECTION DEVICE Frank F. Stelz, Lakewood, N. J assignor of onehalf to MaxHixon, New York, N. Y. 1

' Application January 31, 1948, Serial No 5,659

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-1) This invention relates to a new device to aid in correcting stuttering, stammering, lisping and other speech defects.--

An object of this invention is to provide a device for controlling the muscles which are employed in speaking so that one who has speech defects can thereby overcome the effects due to lack of muscle control in'talking. Another objectof the invention is to provide a speech correcting device which exerts the proper pressure against the teeth when the mouth is opened in normal speaking position, to provide a direct reaction on the vocal chords and speaking muscles, to provide for steady supported jaw motion and to overcome the effects caused by undesired muscle contractions and clamping, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a speech correcting device which maintains enough pressure against the teeth to make the patient exert a slightly stronger effort at pronunciation than is normally required, thereby causing the patient to bring the whole orifice of the mouth into full and coordinated action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is insertable into the mouth and which enables one who is suffering from some speech defect to practice speaking and enunciating while having the jaws steadily supported.

These objects and others ancillary thereto are obtained by providing a pair of plates which can be fitted between the upper and lower jaws and which are held apart by springaction in such a way asto exert a gentle but uniform and adequatepressure against the teeth when the mouth is open to a normal speaking position so that a stronger effort at pronunciation is necessary. An essential feature of the invention is thatthe spring action is variable over a wide range of pressures so that as the patient improves the spring action can be decreased and so that the device may be adjusted to various patients depending upon the degree of the infirmity, the age and jaw strength of the person, etc.

The novel features characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the-device.

Figure 2 is the front elevation as seen from line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation as seen from line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail view along line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail view (partly cut away and enlarged) of a replaceable spring.

As shown in the drawing the device comprises two terminal mouthpieces l0 and H which are adapted to bear against the teeth of the upper and lower jaws respectively. These terminal mouthpieces l0 and are arcuate shape and are U-shaped in cross section. The trough in the arcuate mouthpieces l0 and II is filled with a soft'fiexible material l2, l3 such as rubber, rubber substitutes, fabrics, etc.

The terminal mouthpieces H! and I are securely held by the main holding plates 20 and 2| respectively. For convenience'the combined mouthpieces l0 and plate 20 may be called 'a'jaw plate. A feature of this invention is the provision for adjusting the spring action by a multiplicity of different resistances so that the pressure on the mouthpieces l0 and H can be varied to suit the patient and to suit the varying conditions through which the patient will pass 'as he improves. To provide for this a number of these detachable spring devices are provided and these spring means are especially provided to produce a uniform pressure on all parts of the upper and lower portions of the jaws. The main holding plates 20 and 2| are held apart in parallel relation by a leaf spring having two parallel arms 24 and 25. Each ofthese arms 24 and 25 is attached at the end to a main holding plate 20 or 2| and at the bend of the spring there is attached a clamp 26. The arms 24 and 25 may be separate springs attached at 26. If desired one may rely entirely upon the spring 24, 25 for the said resistance. This action ordinarily, however is insufiicient. The resistance to movement of the plates l0 and H is therefore further reinforced by the spring 28 which extends be.- tween the plates 20 and 2| and is held in place by a bolt 29 which passes through the plates 20 and 2|. The bolt 29 freely rotates in plate 2H but is held in position by screw threads 21 in plate 2|. By properly adjusting the bolt 29 the limit of outward movement of the mouthpieces l6 and H can be adjusted for mouths of different sizes. The spring 28 can obviously be replaced by springs having varying degrees of resistance.

A pair of leaf springs 30 and 3| is symmetria c'ally arranged one on eachside of the plates 20 and 2| so as to maintain uniform pressure at both sides of the terminal mouthpieces ID and H. This pair of leaf springs 30 and 3| may be attached to the top holding plate 20 by screws 32, 33 and 38, 39 and to the bottom holding plate by screws 34, 35 and 40, 4|. The fiat surface of the leaf springs 3G and 3| bearing against the fiat surface of the plates 20 and 2| serves to maintain the plates 20 and 2| in a parallel position. Although these leaf springs are shown as being attached by screws they may be also removably attached by having key-hole slots therein and rivets with extending heads on the plates 20 and 2|.

A feature of this invention is the inclusion of a circular or elliptical shell type of spring 50 such as shown in detail in Figure 5. This spring is shown as being made by bending a strip of spring in the form of a circle or ellipse and uniting the ends and 52 as by a rivet 53. The rivet 53 has an enlarged head 54. A rivet 55 with an enlarged head 56 is also provided diametrically opposite to the rivet 53. The rivet containing portions of the spring 59 are shown enlarged and in cross section in Figure 5. The enlarged heads 55 of the rivet 55 is adapted to fit into the indentation 68 of the plate 26 (see Figure 4). A similar indentation is provided in plate 2! to hold the head 54 of the rivet 53 and accurately position the spring 58. A plurality of springs 58, (each having a different resistance) are provided and these springs can be quickly changed to vary the pressure required to move the plates 23 and 2i toward each other.

The device of this invention is employed with a series of 20 or more scientifically graded speech lessons. The nature of the lessons depends on whether the defect to be corrected is stammering, lisping or stuttering, etc, and on the seriousness of the defect. It is therefore necessary to provide for a great range of resistances to movement. The device is also useful for the development of the vocal cords in the teaching of singing (especially opera singing) and foreign languages.

Allthe springs or pairs of springs have their separate functions in the device. The spring which comprises the arms '24 and 25 serves to maintain the mouthpiece If! directly above the mouthpiece H. The leaf springs 38 and 3| keep one mouthpiece from tilting with respect to the other. The main pressure spring is 28 and it is through the bolt 29 (which also holds spring 28) that the maximum spacing of the jaw plates is adjusted. The spring 5!] which is quickly and easily removed or inserted provides. for the quick and accurate adjustability which is desired.

It will be seen that this invention provides a device for maintaining a desired pressure upon the jaws of one who is alilicted with speech defects so that a stronger effort at pronunciation is required and so that the patient is enabled to practice speech exercises to correct the deficiency while having the jaws steadily supported.

Although certain specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that many modifications thereof are possible. This invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the rior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device adapted to be inserted in the mouth of a patient having speech defects to provide for steady, supported jaw motion of said patient in talking, which device comprises a pair of substantially parallel mouthpieces of arcuate shape, one adapted to fit against the upper jaw teeth and. one adapted to fit against the lower jaw teeth, a pair of leaf springs attached together at one end, and each of said leaf springs having its other end attached to the center portion of one of the mouthpieces, the improvement which comprises an endless balanced, elliptically shaped leaf spring adapted to be quickly inserted and held between the said mouthpieces so as to increase the force urging the mouthpieces apart.

2. In a device adapted to be inserted in the mouth of a patient having speech defects to provide for steady, supported jaw motion of said patient in talking which device comprises, a pair of substantially parallel mouthpieces of arcuate shape, one adapted to fit against the upper jaw teeth and one adapted to fit against the lower jaw teeth, a cushioning means associated with each mouthpiece adapted to directly contact the teeth of the patient, an upper supporting plate for holding the upper mouthpiece and a-lower supporting plate for holding the lower mouthpiece, a pair of leaf springs attached together at one end, and each of said leaf springs having its other end attached to the center portion of one of the plates for the mouth pieces, a helical spring between the said plates tending to urge them apart, the improvement which comprises a pair of opposed holding means, one on each of the inside portions of said supporting plates, an endless, balanced, elliptically shaped leaf spring, means at each of two opposed points on the elliptical spring corresponding to the points where the minor axis crosses the ellipse adapted to interfit with the holding means of said supporting plate whereby the said elliptical spring can be quickly applied or removed from said device.

3. In a device adapted to be inserted in the mouth of a patient having speech defects to provide for steady, supported jaw motion of said patient in talking which device comprises, a pair of substantially parallel mouthpieces 0f arcuate shape, one adapted to fit against the upper jaw and one adapted to fit against the lower jaw teeth, a cushioning means associated with each mouthpiece adapted to directly contact the teeth of the patient, an upper supporting plate for holding the upper mouthpiece and a lower supporting plate for holding the lower mouthpiece, a pair of leaf springs attached together at one end, and each of said leaf springs having its other end attached to the center portion of one of the plates for the mouthpieces, a helical spring between the said plates tending tourge them apart, a pair of leaf springs removably attached at symmetrical points to the sides of the plates for the mouthpieces tending to urge the plates apart, the improvement which comprises a pair of opposed indentations, one on each of the inside portions of said supporting plates, an endless, balanced, elliptically-shaped leaf spring, a headed means at each of two opposed points on the elliptical spring corresponding to the points where the minor axis crosses the ellipse adapted to fit into the said indentations and hold the said elliptical spring between said supporting plates whereby the said elliptical spring can be quickly applied or removed from said device and a means associated with said helical spring adapted to set and determine the maximum distance that the combination of springs can urge the said plates apart.

4'. In a device adapted to be inserted in the mouth of a patient having speech defects to provide for steady, supported jaw motion of said patient in talking, a pair of substantially parallel mouthpieces of arcuate shape, one adapted to fit against the upper jaw teeth and one adapted to fit against the lower jaw teeth, a cushioning means associated with each mouthpiece adapted to directly contact the teeth of the patient, an upper supporting plate for holding the upper mouthpiece and a lower supporting plate for 5. In a device adapted to be inserted in the.

mouth of a patient having speech defects to provide for steady, supported jaw motion of said patient in talking, a pair of substantially parallel mouthpieces of arcuate shape, one adapted to fit against the upper jaw teeth and one adapted to fit against the lower jaw teeth and an upper supporting plate for holding the upper mouthpiece and a lower supporting plate for holding the lower mouthpiece, a pair of leaf springs attached together at one end, each of said leaf springs having its other end attached to the center portion of one of the mouthpieces, said plates containing an indentation at the center portion of the side adjacent the other plate, and an elliptically shaped spring containing protrusions at two diametrically opposed portions adapted to removably fit into said indentations so that, the said elliptically shaped spring is securely but removably held by said plates.

6. A device to be employed in the development and exercising of the oral muscles and the vocal cords in connection with a graded series of lessons for the correction of speech defects and teaching of singing, comprising in combination a pair of jaw plates and a plurality of means for urging the jaw plates apart, said plurality of means for urging the jaw plates apart comprising a main pressure coil spring, two symmetrically arranged flat springs, one removable elliptical spring for changing the pressure according to the speech defect to be corrected, and a means to set the distance to which the springs can urge the jaw plates apart.

FRANK F- STELZ.

REFERENCES crrED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Feb. 18, 1931 Number 

